Plaka

Put on comfortable shoes and walk past … and present Athens. These districts -- each with a distinct history and charm worth exploring -- hinge the sacred rock of the Acropolis and make up what is known as the Historic Centre. Much of the accommodation in this area offers views of and easy access to the Acropolis and the surrounding Unification of Archaeological sites, one of the largest archeological parks. Many museums, shops, galleries, bars and restaurants are here, as are some of the world’s most ancient archaeological sites and monuments.

DAY ONE

Acropolis

On the18th and the 19th of October, the 4th Meet Market will take place at the E.PA.S.K.T gallery at Plaka (19A, Tholou & Panos st). This collective fair, that is organized on a monthly basis, gathers together a group of Greek and foreign artists, designers and DJ's, and introduces us to their creations. Get ready to meet the talented and creative side of Athens!

Psirri
If you enjoy going out at night, Psirri is a must to visit. Some of Athens' hottest clubs and bars are here. Large and small, they play all types of music from Greek, rock and ethnic to Latin, pop and jazz. Psirri has become an Athenian favorite. It offers artistically designed venues with good food, great music and an overall ambiance. The mezedopoleia serving Greek appetizers, wine, ouzo and rakomelo (a potent alcoholic drink made with the Cretan spirit, raki, and honey) attract young and old alike.

To truly experience modern Athenian nightlife, we recommend spending a few hours at a Greek nightclub with live Greek music. The levels vary from mellow to extreme. In the winter, many top 20 Greek pop singers fill large halls along the industrial strip known as Iera Odos and Pireos Street and in the summer months along the coastal districts of Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. Here clients are part of the fun, dancing on the stage and on the tables until the early hours. Laid-back evenings can be enjoyed at the many rebetadika in Psirri and Plaka.

Athens is famous for its vibrant nightlife. The Athenians like to party and will do so almost every night of the week. The choices are plenty and they appeal to all tastes and lifestyles. In general, things get started pretty late: after midnight for bars and clubbing and after 10:00 p.m. for dinner at the city's tavernas, Athens Restaurants and bar-restaurants.

Athenians, like most Greeks, love their coffee, especially their frappé, an iced shaken and stirred beverage that is consumed year-round. For Athenians, like their European counterparts, drinking a cup of coffee is a ritual that is often accompanied by a parea (a group of friends), good conversation and people- watching or reading the newspaper.

Here is a breakdown of gastronomic districts that offer tastes which are sure to satisfy:

Sintagma Square We start our gastronomic tour in Sintagma Square in the center of Athens and in the area around the tree-lined Vassilisis Sofias Avenue20/06/08

The local and traditional Greek tavernas in Athens Greece are plentiful and a cultural mainstay. There are hundreds in Plaka, Monastiraki, Psirri, Piraeus, Kypseli and Petralona. However, many contemporary chefs have taken over the reins and introduced the concept of gourmet tavernas. Here you will find dishes that are driven by ingredients indigenous to what has become known as the Mediterranean diet or flavours from various parts of Greece: olive oil from Crete, organic vegetables and fruits and herbs and honey desserts from the different villages.

There is a lot you can see and do in one day to quickly immerse yourself in the rich past and modern present of this buzzing European metropolis. Start your day by getting up early and putting on comfortable walking shoes or sneakers. Our one day of discovering Athens' past and present begins...

The oldest district of Athens, Plaka, is characterized by monuments of all periods, which prove that this was the heart of the city from Antiquity until modern times. Several small churches, a mosque, an Ottoman bath and the first university of Greece, together with the Roman Agora, constitute its cultural mosaic. After a walk in its narrow streets, a glass of wine in one of the little taverns under the Acropolis is a must.